Rolling Stones at TCF Bank Stadium: Everything you need to know

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The Rolling Stones are often described as “the biggest band in the world,” and if you combine their continued drawing power with their towering musical significance, it’s true that they’re without peers among active rock groups. Accordingly, Minnesota is going absolutely bananas for their show tonight at TCF Bank Stadium—their first local show in ten years, and their 11th since they first came through town in 1964.

Here’s a roundup of news and information about the Stones in Minneapolis; we’ll update this post throughout the day.

Brass tacks

Gates tonight open at 6:00 p.m.; posted showtime is 8:00 p.m., with Grace Potter opening for the Stones. Set times haven’t been posted, but press photographers are being asked to assemble at 7:30 for Grace Potter and 8:45 for the Rolling Stones.

The University of Minnesota has a roundup of transportation options, and they encourage you to arrive early and “enjoy the campus” by patronizing local establishments, since there’s no tailgating permitted on University property. However you’re getting to the show, be sure to allow plenty of time.

Will-call tickets can be picked up at the main box office (between the Big Stone and Carlton County signs), and if you have floor seats, you can enter at Gate C. Bring your phone or “small non-professional camera,” but leave the tripod and the GoPro at home.

Weather

There’s no getting around it: if you’re going to the show, there’s a good chance you’re going to get wet. Showers and thunderstorms are likely tonight—though the highest likelihood is between 4:00 and 8:00, before the Stones take the stage. Umbrellas aren’t permitted at the stadium, so bring a poncho or raincoat.

Special guests

Opener Grace Potter is a bluesy rocker with plenty of fans among local audiences, but there’s a local group who will actually be joining the Stones on stage: VocalEssence, an esteemed Minneapolis-based choir who will perform with the band for one or more undisclosed songs—which will almost certainly include “You Can’t Always Get What You Want,” a song the Stones played with a guest choir at their San Diego tour opener. Classical MPR has the inside story on VocalEssence’s guest turn, straight from choir director Philip Brunelle.

Procrastinators’ options

If you haven’t yet bought tickets, you’re not necessarily shut out of the show. Beyond the many resale options, the Stones have been releasing some great seats—some at prices substantially reduced from what they were first going for. Check the band’s website to see what, if anything, is available.

A few Stones sidemen sat in with local musicians as “Band 2” last night at the Dakota Jazz Club, and Watts jumped behind the drum kit for “Ruby Tuesday.” Meanwhile, Ron Wood took in Juno and the Paycock at the Guthrie Theater—and stayed to meet the cast.

What will they play?

The Stones’ 1971 classic Sticky Fingers is being reissued next week, and at a spontaneous club show before embarking on this stadium tour, the band played the album in its entirety. Based on what the band has played on the tour so far, though, that seems unlikely to happen tonight—though Sticky Fingers fans will likely get a few choice cuts.

Interestingly, at their show in Columbus, the band played “Hang On Sloopy,” a song they hadn’t covered in 49 years, since it’s the official rock song of Ohio. MPR News speculates as to what song they might play in honor of Minnesota—but don’t get your hopes up too high for a Trashmen cover.

Though standards like “Jumpin’ Jack Flash,” “Gimme Shelter,” “Brown Sugar,” and “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” are almost guaranteed, the band certainly don’t have a set-in-stone (so to speak) plan for these stadium shows. If you want a sneak peek, check out what they played in San Diego and Columbus.